Badly ill man’s
bike set alight

A MOTORBIKE which is treasured by a terminally ill Scarborough man has been stolen and left burned out on a playing field.

Adrian Clark, who lives in Maple Drive, has been diagnosed with lung cancer, and recently underwent surgery to remove large parts of both lungs in a bid to prolong his life.

He had been looking forward to riding his rare black Triumph Legend TT, which he spent hundreds of hours painstakingly restoring, once he recovered from the surgery.

However his plans have now been left in tatters by the yobs.

“I was getting over the surgery and was looking forward to enjoying myself as much as possible, then this happens,” said 44-year-old Mr Clark, who has been obsessed with motorbikes since he was a child.

The motorcycle was taken from outside his home last Friday. It was later discovered alight on nearby Barrowcliff playing field, with its headlights smashed and electrics torn out.

Mr Clark then pulled a muscle in his back, as he tried to retrieve the heavy bike. The injury caused him so much pain after his recent surgery that he required morphine injections.

He says the theft has provoked outrage amongst his friends and in his local community.

“The phone’s never stopped ringing,” he said. “I’ve heard from people who I haven’t heard from in years.

“I had a Harley-Davidson which I parked there for five years, no-one ever touched it.

“Now things are going downhill around here. People have no respect and it’s getting worse and worse.”

Grainy CCTV images of two men with the bike have been obtained, and Mr Clark has appealed for anyone with information on who took his motorbike to come forward, so the thieves can be brought to justice.

“Someone must have seen or heard something,” he added.

Police Constable Sarah Margetts said: “Being a victim of crime is distressing at any time, but in this case it is particularly traumatic as the victim has been diagnosed with a serious illness and the motorbike was his pride and joy.

“I urge anyone who knows anything about this theft or who may have witnessed the criminal damage when the motorbike was abandoned to come forward as I need to speak to them as soon as possible.”

Anyone who can help with the enquiry is asked to contact PC Sarah Margetts at Scarborough police station on 0845 6060247 quoting reference number 12110003032, or they can contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.